Curbed walls comprising pairs of planar panels and studs therefore

ABSTRACT

A curved wall formed from generally circular segments comprising planar panels non-colinearly mounted by studs having side flanges interengaging the edges of the panels, and means contacting the edges but not the face of the panels, for preventing improper convergence of the panels.

United States Patent Nelsson et al. July 8, 1975 [54] CURBED WALLSCOMPmslNG pAlRS 0 2,438,120 2/134 uten 52 496 x D THERE RE 2,882.5 4ouse et a.... 52/586 x PLANAR PANELS AND STU 8 F0 3,027,605 4/1962Nelss0n...... 52/241 [75] Inventors: Nels Nelsson, Des Plaines; Alan C.3,074,505 1/1963 Schulz 52/496 X Wendt, Harrington, both of Ill.3,l96,992 7/1965 Owen......... 52/282 3,210,808 10/1965 Crea er 52/496 X[731 Asslgneei F States Gypsum mpany, 3,349,533 10/1967 Greg ireu"52/627 )1 Chicago, 3,425,171 2 1969 Propst....,.......... 52/71 x 83,509,673 5/1970 Witkosky et al.. 52/497 X [22] 1973 3,592,289 7/1971Aysta 52/656 x [21] Appl. No.: 334,187

Primary ExaminerFrank L. Abbott 52 US. Cl. 52/65; l6/l39; 52/70; AmmanBra'm 52/7 52/2 52/277; 52/282; 52/285; Attorney, Agent, or FirmSamuelKurlandsky, Esq.; 52/488; 52/496; 52/586; 52/729; 52/731 Kenneth E.Roberts, Esq.; Stanton T. Hadley, Esq. [51] Int. Cl E04b 1/344; E04b2/32; E0413 2/78;

E04b 2/82 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 52/245, 277, 71, 278, 70, Ad u f d f H I 52/65 482 285 488 281 492 280 494 curve genera y 3' 496ments compnsmg planar panels non-colmearly mounted by studs having sideflanges interengaging the edges of the panels, and means contacting the[56] References Cited edges but not the face of the panels, forpreventing UNITED STATES PATENTS improper convergence of the panels.649,387 5/1900 Wright 16/146 25 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1,030,4046/l9l2 Hubbard 52/496 X 2,175,653 l0/l939 Williams 52/278 X PATENTEnJuL8 ms SHEEI Prior Art 1 CURBED WALLS COMPRISING PAIRS OF PLANAR PANELSAND STUDS THEREFORE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the construction ofwalls from planar gypsum wallboard panels, it is conventional to mountthe panels in ceiling and floor runners by the use of studs of one typeor another. Preferably these are hidden, floating studs, such as shownin U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,605, which interengage with the panels by atongue-and-groove fit between flanges on the studs and kerfs in theedges of the panels. Heretofore, such panels generally have been mountedeither linearly or orthogonally. No hidden stud has been taught whichwould permit an angle between and 90, and still cover uniformly the gapbetween the panels. That is, one of the main advantages of kerf-engagedpanels is the fact that the joints are rendered inconspicuous, creatingthe appearance of a monoliithic surface. Exposure of the stud is sounattractive esthetically that the amount not hidden, if any, must beminimized.

Studs of a different type have been provided which will permit thenon-colinear positioning of panels to approximate a circular wallsegment. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,533. However, thedisadvantage of this type of stud is that it does not interengage with akerf, but instead surrounds the complete edge, thus exposing to view avery substantial stud segment. Furthermore. for each change in the radiiof curvature of the wall segment, or a change in panel thickness, anentirely new stud must be provided. Such different stud sizes result inthe stockpiling of a great variety of different studs, eacn of which isof limited use.

Still another problem is that such a stud cannot accommodate more thanone panel defining the thickness. This problem is particularly acute forpartitions made from gypsum panels or wallboard, inasmuch as such panelsconventionally have only one face, the front face, decoratively treated.Most partitions, such as landscape partitions temporarily dividing uplarge rooms by sections less than ceiling height, must have both exposedfaces attractively decorated. For gypsum panels, this requires a pair ineach section with the undecorated faces adjacent to each other. It willbe readily appreciated that the use of paired gypsum panels to defineeach portion or section of a curved wall creates a special geometricproblem if standard widths are to be used for both members of the pair.That is, unless each of the panels in the pair is properly positioned,the chord of the circle defined by the outer panel will not be centeredwithin the arc of the chord defined by the inner panel. None of thecircular partitions heretofore provided have dealt with this problem.

In the field of landscape partitions, adjustable piano hinges have beenused to permit panel angles between 0 and 180. However, these arescrew-attached to the edge of the panels, and the entire gap between thehinge has been completely exposed. Not only is such a gap unattractivebecause of the appearance of the screws, by reason of its converge it isdifficult to keep clean. Still other constructions, of which U.S. Pat.No. 3,592,289 is one example, use flexible hinges connected to theexposed faces of the frames of the panel. Although the hinge covers thegap, this has the same disadvantage as noted above concerning the typeof structure exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,533. That is, thisconstruction exposes the entire hinge and thus destroys the appearanceof a monolithic wall. Thus there is a need for a hinged wall segmentparticularly suited to gypsum panels which covers the gap at the hingewith a minimum of exposure of the hinge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a generally circularwall segment for a landscape partition or a complete wall, comprisingnon-colinearly positioned wallboard panels and studs mounting the panelsby kerf engagement of flanges of the studs, the gap between panels beingcovered by means which extend into contact only with the kerfed edges ofthe panels, and not the front or back face surfaces thereof. Morespecifically, there is provided studs and a generally circular wallsegment comprising planar panels non-colinearly positioned toapproximate a circle; each panel having a front surface and an edgesurface; the studs each being positioned between two adjacent ones ofsaid panels at their adjacent edges and interengaging the same; each ofthe studs being further characterized by side flanges each having meansfor interengaging kerfs in the adjacent panel edge surfaces; stop meansfor separating said ad jacent edge surfaces a distance A defined by theequation:

where w the width of the panels, I the thickness of the wall measuredfrom the interior point of contact of two adjacent interengaged panelsif translated into contiguous positions, to the point of measurement ofthe distance .r, R the radius of curvature measured from the center ofcurvature of the wall segment to the midpoint of the interior surface ofthe wall segment, d the distance, if any, the interior points of contactof said panels are actually spaced apart in the wall as assembled, a thedepth of the chamfer, if any, of the panel surface defining saidinterior surface, and a the angle between R and a line extending fromthe center of curvature through the midpoint of the separation betweensaid adjacent edge surfaces; and covering means adja cent the convexsurface of the wall segment for covering the gap between adjacentpanels. Optionally, the studs may further include means for altering theangular positioning of the kerf-interengaging means at one edge surfacewith respect to the kerf-interengaging means at the adjacent edgesurface. This in turn requires means for altering either the width .r orthe thickness r. Preferably, each section of the wall segment is formedby a pair of panels, in which case the studs are provided with stopmeans for locating the edge surfaces of each pair in a common plane,which plane is angled with respect to the center of the stud the sameamount as the plane of the edge surfaces of the next adjacent pair ofpanels.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a wall segmentparticularly suited for gypsum panels, approximating a circular shape,and kerf-engaging studs therefor, which expose a minimum of stud surfaceexterior to the wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a wall segmentwherein each portion is formed from paired panels of equal widths.

It is a related object of the invention to provide such a wall segmentand studs wherein the studs have means for covering the gap and forabutting the adjacent panel edge surfaces without covering the front orback face surface of the panels.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a wall segment andstuds therfor which are readily adjustable to accommodate variations inthe radii of curvature of the wall segment.

It is yet another related object of the invention to provide such a wallsegment wherein the number of different stud configurations required forvariations in wall dimensions is minimized.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reference to thefollowing brief description of the drawings and detailed discussion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view insection of a circular wall segment constructed in accordance with theprior art;

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic plan view of a wall segment constructedin accordance with the invention, illustrating several sizes of the studused therein;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragment, in section, of a wall similar to thatshown in FIG. 2, modified to show a more generalized condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragment, in section, of the fragment shown inFIG. 3',

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view in section similar to FIG. 3, butillustrating another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 6-7 are fragmentary plan views in section similar to FIG. 3 butillustrating still other embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention concernspartitions arranged so as to form a generally circular wall or wallsegment, assembled from planar panels. It will be apparent thatcurvature must be obtained from the means connecting such planar panels.As such, the wall or wall segment may extend the full height from floorto ceiling, being held there by conventional floor and ceiling runnertrack, or it may be a so-called landscape partition extending less thanfull height. In both cases, both faces ofthe wall are decorated.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated one mode of assemblyprovided heretofore to achieve a circular wall 10. Single panels 12 aremounted so that their vertical edges I3 telescope or fit between theflanges I4 of a stud 16, the flanges being non-orthogonally inclined tothe center web 18 of the stud so as to obtain the prescribed fixedcurvature of the wall. Since both surfaces 20 and 22 of the panels mustbe decorated, it is difficult to use conventional gypsum wallboard asthe panels. Furthermore, flanges 14 extend well beyond the verticaledges 13, thus destroying the appearance of a monolithic, unbroken wallsurface.

Turning now to FIG. 2, in accordance with one as pect of the invention,a curved wall comprising generally circular segments 30', 30", and 30",is assembled by mounting paired panels 32 and 34 held in a properangular relationship to adjacent panels 32 and 34, respectively, bystuds 40", and 40" interengaged with the vertical edge surfaces 35 ofthe panels (FIG. 3). Each segment 30', 30", and 30" has its own radiusof curvature R and center of curvature C identified by the correspondingprime. As is readily apparent from the drawing and as explained morefully hereafter, a different sized or angled stud 40 must be used ineach of the three segments.

A pair of panels 32, 34 defines one section ofthe wall segments. Each ofthe paired panels has a decorated face surface 36 and an undecoratedback surface 38, positioned with the back surfaces adjacent. As such,the panels may be gypsum wallboard, but although the descriptionhereafter shall be limited to such, other panels may also be used.

Panels such as gypsum wallboard come in conventional or standard widths,and it is thus essential that each panel of any pair be positioned sothat the sectors of the circle of which each panel is a chord are concentric, one centered within the other. Otherwise, the radius of curvaturecannot be maintained and/or the panels 32 (and 34, segment 30") cannotabut each other at their vertical edges. To accomplish this, thevertical edge surface 35 of paired panels 32 and 34 must be coplanar.This relationship in turn defines the geometry of the studs which mustmount the panels in the manner stated. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, thestuds 40 comprise a center web portion 42, paired side flanges 44 and 46each pair of which extends from an opposite side of portion 42 at anon-orthogonal angle thereto, cover means 48 adjacent to the panelsurfaces 36, and stops 50 for separating or preventing convergence ofpanels 34. The side flanges conventionally interengage with the panelsat kerfs SI. As best seen in FIG. 3, in the embodiment illustrated, thegap cover and the stops are all formed and provided by flange 47extending from the web portion 42 generally perpendicular thereto, atthe edge of the portion 42 opposite to the edge from which flanges 44extend. Flanges 44 also have stop ridges or ribs 52 extendingperpendicularly therefrom towards flanges 46. Ribs 52 are not needed(FIG. 2) if adjacent panels 32 actually contact. The resultingconstruction provides stop means on the stud for locating the verticaledge surfaces of the paired panels in a common plane inclined at anangle alpha from the center web portion 42. The stop means on theopposite side of the stud locates the paired panels on the opposite sidein a common plane at an angle to the web portion 42 which issubstantially equal to the angle alpha.

Of the parts of the stud thus enumerated, flange 47, ribs 52 (if any),and the angle of the side flanges 44 and 46 to the center web portionare controlled by the geometry of the wall segment. FIGS. 3 and 4 bestillustrate the geometry, for a wall segment identical to that shown inFIG. 2, except that the segment has been generalized by translatingpanels 32 apart a distance such that each of the corners 62 thereof isspaced from the imaginary interior point of contact 64 which would existif the corners were contiguous, by a distance d/2. Thisdistance alsoappears in the separation of panels 34. To achieve the properpositioning of paired panels 32 and 34, it is essential that the widthof flange 47 and the distance between the exterior surfaces of ribs 52,be defined by the value of the radius of curvature and of the anglealpha. Angle alpha is defined by the radius of curvature drawn to themidpoint 54 of the interior surface of the wall segment, namely surface36, and a line extending from the center of curvature through point 64,here identified as line 66. Thus, let x be the distance either panels 32or panels 34 must be separated by either flange 47 measured from stops50, or the stop ridges 52. Then,

x12 =d/2 y,

for v the distance the vertical edge surface 35 is separated by the stopmeans 50 or rib 52 from a plane parallel to the plane of web portion 42.As will be seen from trigononmetric relationships, for w the width ofthe panels, I the thickness of the wall measured from comers 62 to thepoint of contact with either stop means 50 (t,.) or rib 52 (1,) and athe amount of chamfer of corners 62 measured parallel to vertical edgesurfaces 35, then y/t sin a cos a tan a But,

(w/2 +()/(R tan a Therefore,

y/l cos a (w/Z c')/(R a) d/2c cos a, or

d 20 cos a.

By substitution and simplification,

y/t (w cos a d)/2(R a) or y (t/2)(w cos a d)/(R a).

Substituting Equation No. 8 into Equation No. l,

x=d+ t (w cosa+d)/(R +a).

It will be apparent that Equation No. 7 applies with equal force to themore specific condition exemplified by FIG. 2, wherein d 0 as points 62have been translated into contact. For this condition, the equationsimplifies to x tw cos a/(R +a).

For panels 32 and 34 having a width of 24 inches and a chamfer a of 3/32of an inch, .1: measured for flange 47 becomes equal to 24! cos a/(R3/32).

The remaining feature of the stud controlled by the geometry is thevalue of the angle beta at which the side flanges 44 and 46 project fromweb portion 42. That value will be seen to be Other details of the wall,not shown, are conventional and readily apparent to one skilled in theart. Thus for a full wall, the studs 40 extend inbetween the sideflanges of both ceiling and floor runners (not shown), so as tocompletely span the space between them. The cross section of the studremains the same throughout its entire length.

The resulting wall built from segments 30', 30", and 30" ischaracterized by a covering flange 47, functioning also as a stoppreventing further improper approach of adjacent panels 34, which hidesthe gap at the joint without protruding out over the face or frontsurface of the panels. The wall readily accommodates a reverse curve, asshown by segment 30", wherein panel 34 is adjacent to panel 32.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated an alternate embodiment,particularly as a landscape partition, wherein both panel stop meanscomprise ribs on both of the side flanges. Parts similar to thosepreviously described bear the same reference numerals to which thedistinguishing suffix a has been added. Thus, wall segment 30a comprisespaired panels 320 and 34a positioned with panels 320 adjacent, andpanels 34a adjacent, at their vertical edge surfaces 35a. Stud 40amounts each pair of panels 32a, 34a with surfaces 35a coplanar and withthe adjacent panels the proper distance apart, by means of side flanges44a and 460. As in the embodiment of FIG. 3, flanges 440 are providedwith stop ribs 52a. However, stud 40a differs in that flange 47 has beeneliminated. In its place, stop ribs 82 project perpendicularly fromflanges 460, towards ribs 52a. Flanges 460 thus constitute the cover forthe gap at the joint, as well as the means mounting the stop ribs andthe panels 340. The distances for the exterior, and .r,, for theinterior are determined by the equations set forth above, as is theangle of projection of flanges 44a and 46a from the web portion 42a. Aslandscape partitions conventionally include a base, bases are shownhaving intersection edges 92 coplanar with the web portion 42a. Thepanels may be conventionally mounted within the bases by structure notshown, or the stud 400 may telescope into shoulders 94 and 96 formed aspart of the base. Base 90 may be omitted if stud 40a is used in a fullheight wall.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate still other embodiments wherein the sideflanges have been rendered rotatable or angularly adjustable, wherebythe radius of curvature and the angle alpha may be varied while usingthe same stud. Parts similar to those previously described bear the samereference numeral, to which the distinguishing suffixes b and c,respectively, have been added.

Turning first to FIG. 6, wall segment 3012 features paired planar panels32b and 34b mounted by a stud 401; having side flanges interengaging thepanels at the kerfed edges 35b of the latter so as to space the panelsthe proper distance apart with edges 35b of each pair of panels beingcoplanar. Unlike the previous embodiments, however, the side flangescomprise portions 100 and 102 hinged together at their interior edges104 by a simple bulb and socket hinge 106, each portion havingkerf-engaging flanges I08 and extending perpendicularly therefrom. Thisconstruction has the advantage of automatically insuring the coplanarmounting of the edges of the paired panels, and of providing severalalternative radii of curvature. To form the stop, and thus the distance.r of the gap, a flat cover member 120 releasibly attaches to theportions 100 and 102 by appropriate means. As shown, that meanscomprises a plurality of ribs 122, 124, 126, and 128 located on thesurfaces of portions 100 and 102, adjacent to their edges opposite toedge 104, projecting generally perpendicularly therefrom so as to faceeach other. The ribs are preferably shaped so as to form curved groovesinbetween them, and member 120 is provided with bulbed edges 129complementary shaped to releasibly snap into position within thegrooves. By altering the groove into which the cover member ispositioned, it will be readily apparent that the value of! in EquationNo. 7 above will change, while the value ofx measured as the width ofmember 120 plus the thickness of the portions 100, 102, will remainconstant. That is, this in turn will alter the value of R and anglealpha. Thus, if the member 120 is moved inwardly, angle alpha increasesand R decreases, by amounts readily calculable from the above equations.

It will be readily apparent that other attachment means (not shown) forcover member 120 can be provided. For example, the blub projectionscould be mounted on the interior surface of portions 100 and 102, andthe edges of the member 120 could be grooved to snap over the bulbs.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 is limited in that only three different radiiof curvature can be provided by the same stud. However, FIG. 7illustrates a stud wherein the radius of curvature of the wall segmentis continuously variable. That is, paired panels 32(' and 340 areinterengaged by flanges 1080 and 11C at edges 35c, these flangesprojecting generally perpendicularly from side flanges c and 1020 whichabut the edges 356, as in the previous embodiment. However, a center webportion 420 is reintroduced in this embodiment, and a continuous hingerotatably mounts the side flanges for continuous angular adjustment withrespect to the center web portion and with respect to each other. Thehinge is of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,402,422, and comprisesgear segments 142 integrally connected to the side flanges, the segmentsbeing hingedly or rotatably mounted on pins 146 forming the edges of a Y148 extending from the web portion. The means for covering the gapbetween the panels comprises, at the opposite edge of the web portion, acurved cover flange split into three flanges 150, 152, I54. Flange 150extends in both directions from the web portion but it does not alwaysextend the full width of the gap to be covered. The difference isprovided by the other curved flanges 152 and 154, which extend towardseach other from the edge of the side flanges 100C and 102C which isopposite to the edge mounting the gear segments. The flanges 152 and 154overlap flange 150. It will be readily apparent that the radii ofcurvature for flanges 152 and 154 must complement the radius for flange150, whereby the flanges will open and close smoothly as the anglebetween the stud side flanges is altered.

Although the flanges 150, 152, and 154 thus provide the cover for thegap between the panels, by themselves they do not prevent improper orundesired convergence of panels 34c, 34c towards each other. For thispurpose, a stop in the form of means for biasing the side flanges l00cand 102C apart, has been added. Specifically, one or more coil torsionsprings are positioned within appropriately sized openings in the centerweb portion 42c. The legs 162 of the spring bias against the sideflanges with a force sufficient to hold the adjacent panels apart, butnot sufficient to prevent deliberately applied convergence when a largerradius of curvature is desired for the wall segment.

Thus, in stud 400, the width of the cover can be continuously alteredfor a fixed thickness I, continuously altering the radius of curvature Rfor the wall segment as per Equation No. 7.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with severalpreferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, it is intendedthat it cover all equivalents, alternate arrangements, and embodimentsas may be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A generally circular wall segment comprising planar panelsnon-colinearly positioned to approximate a circle, each panel having afront surface and an edge surface, and a plurality of studs eachpositioned between two adjacent ones of said panels at their adjacentedges and interengaging the same, each of the studs being characterizedby a center web portion, at least one flange extending from two oppositesides of the web portion at a non-orthogonal angle thereto, interengagedwith the edge surface of one adjacent panel, and means positionedtowards the convex surface of the wall from the flange for covering thegap between adjacent panels and for preventing convergence of theadjacent panels, said means including a flange extending so as tocontact the edge surfaces only of two adjacent panels and having a widthx defined by the following equation:

where w the width of the panels, r= the thickness of the wall measuredfrom the interior point of contact of two adjacent interengaged panelsif translated into contiguous positions, to the point of contact withsaid covering means, R the radius of curvature measured from the centerof curvature of the wall segment to the midpoint of the interior surfaceof the wall segment, d the distance, if any, the interior points ofcontact of said panels are actually spaced apart in the wall asassembled, a the depth of the chamfer, if any, of the panel surfacedefining said interior surface, and a the angle between R and a lineextending from the center of curvature through the midpoint of theseparation between said adjacent edge surfaces.

2. The wall segment as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the portionsof the wall segment positioned between two of said studs are defined bya pair of said panels of substantially equal width and thickness locatedback to back, said studs having two of said flanges projecting from eachof said sides into interengagement each with one of said pair.

3. The wall segment as defined in claim 2, wherein said non-orthogonalangle for each of said two flanges is equal to:

4. The wall segment as defined in claim 1, wherein said non-orthogonalangle equals 5. The wall segment as defined in claim 1, and furtherincluding means for angularly adjusting said one flange with respect tosaid center web portion about the longitudinal axis of said web portion.

6. The wall segment as defined in claim 5, wherein said angularlyadjusting means includes means for hinging said one flange with respectto said web portion.

7. A generally circular wall segment comprising planar panelsnon-colinearly positioned to approximate a circle, each panel having afront surface and an edge surface; and a plurality of studs eachpositioned between two adjacent ones of said panels at their adjacentedges and interengaging the same; each of the studs being characterizedby at least two side flanges each having means for interengaging kerfsin the adjacent panel edge surfaces; stop means for separating saidadjacent edge surfaces a distance x defined by the equation:

.\' d+ ((w cos a d)/(R +a) where w the width of the panels, I thethickness of the wall measured from the interior point of contact of twoadjacent interengaged panels if translated into contigous positions, tothe point of measurement of the distance x, R the radius of curvaturemeasured from the center of curvature of the wall segment to themidpoint of the interior surface of the wall segment, d the distance, ifany, the interior points of contact of said panels are actually spacedapart in the wall as assembled, a the depth of the chamfer, if any, ofthe panel surface defining said interior surface, and a the anglebetween R and a line extending from the center of curvature through themidpoint of the separation between said adjacent edge surfaces; andcovering means adjacent the convex surface of the wall segment forcovering the gap between adjacent panels.

8. The wall segment as defined in claim 7, wherein said stop meansincludes a rib projecting generally perpendicularly from one of saidside flanges.

9. The wall segment as defined in claim 7, and further including meansfor altering the angular positioning of the kerf-interengaging means atone edge surface with respect to the kerf-interengaging means at theadjacent edge surface.

10. The wall segment as defined in claim 9, and further including meansfor altering the width x.

11. The wall segment as defined in claim 7, and further including meansfor altering the thickness 1.

12. The wall segment as defined in claim 7, wherein said side flangesare hinged together at one of their edges.

13. The wall segment as defined in claim 12, and further including a ribprojecting generally perpendicularly from said side flange.

14. The wall segment as defined in claim 13, wherein said stop means andsaid covering means comprise ribs spaced apart on said side flanges,forming grooves, and a flat cover member releasibly positioned withinsaid grooves. respectively.

15. The wall segment as defined in claim 12, and further including acenter web portion mounting said covering means at one edge and hingedlymounting two interengaging gear segments at the other edge, said gearsegments being integrally connected to said side flanges, wherebyrotation of one gear segment and side flange with respect to the centerweb portion causes the other gear segment and side flange to rotate anequal amount.

16. The wall segment as defined in claim 15, wherein said stop meansincludes a coil torsion spring positioned so as to extend from one sideflange to the opposite side flange through said web portion.

17. A stud for use in a generally circular wall segment comprisingplanar panels non-colinearly positioned to approximate a circle with thestuds each positioned between two adjacent ones of said panels at theiradjacent edges and interengaging the same; the stud comprising at leasttwo side flanges, a center web portion mounting a covering means at oneedge, and two interengaging gear segments hingedly mounted for rotationabout the other edge of the web portion, said gear segments beingintegrally connected to said side flanges, whereby rotation of one gearsegment and side flange with respect to the center web portion causesthe other gear segment and side flange to rotate an equal amount.

18. The stud as defined in claim 17, wherein said covering means includea curved flange extending in both directions from the center webportion. and a curved flange extending from one edge of each side flangetowards and overlapping said web portion flange, each of saidoverlapping flanges having complementary radii of curvature.

19. The stud as defined in claim 17, and further including means forbiasing the side flanges apart.

20. A generally curved wall segment comprising pairs of planar panelseach having a front surface and an edge surface, and a plurality ofstuds each positioned between two pairs of adjacent ones of said panelsat their adjacent edge surfaces and interengaging the same, leavingtheir front surfaces exposed, each pair of panels defining one sectionof the wall, each of the studs being characterized by a center webportion and lateral flanges engaging kerfs provided at the edges of saidpanels, said lateral flanges having protuberances serving as stop meansfor locating said edge surfaces of each pair of panels in a common planeinclined at an angle to and spaced-apart from the center web portion.

21. The wall segment as defined in claim 20, wherein said angle on oneside of the web portion is substantially equal to said angle on theopposite side.

22. A wall comprising a plurality of planar wall members arranged withtheir surfaces tangent to an imaginary curvilinear line, each of saidwall members comprising a pair of parallel spaced-apart panels eachhaving a kerf provided therein at the vertical edges thereof, and aplurality of studs each intermediate and connecting the panels ofadjacent wall members, each stud comprising a transverse web having apair of oppositely directed flanges disposed at an angle of less thanwith respect to each other at one portion thereof disposed within thekerfs of one pair of adjacent panels, and a second pair of oppositelydirected flanges disposed at an angle of less than 180 with respect toeach other spaced-apart from said first pair and disposed within thekerfs of the other pair of adjacent panels.

23. A wall according to claim 22, additionally having cover meansmounted on each of said studs covering the space between the edges ofadjacent wall members at the outer surface thereof.

24. A wall according to claim 23, wherein said cover means comprises apair of oppositely directed flanges integral with said stud.

25. A wall according to claim 22, wherein the web of said stud comprisesa pair of web members hingedly connected at one end, and having a coverplate disposed at the spaced-apart ends of said web means.

* i i k UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,893 269 Dated uly 975 Inventor) Nels Nelsson and Alan C. Wendt It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the title CURBED should read CURVED.

Signed and Scaled this [SEAL] thirtieth D y Of September 1975 Arrest:

RUTH C. Anflmm (:ljyANSON C. MARSHALL DANN we (hmmissinm'r 11] Parentsand Trademarks )RM PO-XOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 50376-P69

1. A generally circular wall segment comprising planar panelsnon-colinearly positioned to approximate a circle, each panel having afront surface and an edge surface, and a plurality of studs eachpositioned between two adjacent ones of said panels at their adjacentedges and interengaging the same, each of the studs being characterizedby a center web portion, at least one flange extending from two oppositesides of the web portion at a non-orthogonal angle thereto, interengagedwith the edge surface of one adjacent panel, and means positionedtowards the convex surface of the wall from the flange for covering thegap between adjacent panels and for preventing convergence of theadjacent panels, said means including a flange extending so as tocontact the edge surfaces only of two adjacent panels and having a widthx defined by the following equation: x d + t(w cos Alpha + d)/(R + a)where w the width of the panels, t the thickness of the wall measuredfrom the interior point of contact of two adjacent interengaged panelsif translated into contiguous positions, to the point of contact withsaid covering means, R the radius of curvature measured from the centerof curvature of the wall segment to the midpoint of the interior surfaceof the wall segment, d the distance, if any, the interior points ofcontact of said panels are actually spaced apart in the wall asassembled, a the depth of the chamfer, if any, of the panel surfacedefining said interior surface, and Alpha the angle between R and a lineextending from the center of curvature through the midpoint of theseparation between said adjacent edge surfaces.
 2. The wall segment asdefined in claim 1, wherein each of the portions of the wall segmentpositioned between two of said studs are defined by a pair of saidpanels of substantially equal width and thickness located back to back,said studs having two of said flanges projecting from each of said sidesinto interengagement each with one of said pair.
 3. The wall segment asdefined in claim 2, wherein said non-orthogonal angle for each of saidtwo flanges is equal to: 90* -Alpha
 4. The wall segment as defined inclaim 1, wherein said non-orthogonal angle equals 90* - Alpha
 5. Thewall segment as defined in claim 1, and further including means foraNgularly adjusting said one flange with respect to said center webportion about the longitudinal axis of said web portion.
 6. The wallsegment as defined in claim 5, wherein said angularly adjusting meansincludes means for hinging said one flange with respect to said webportion.
 7. A generally circular wall segment comprising planar panelsnon-colinearly positioned to approximate a circle, each panel having afront surface and an edge surface; and a plurality of studs eachpositioned between two adjacent ones of said panels at their adjacentedges and interengaging the same; each of the studs being characterizedby at least two side flanges each having means for interengaging kerfsin the adjacent panel edge surfaces; stop means for separating saidadjacent edge surfaces a distance x defined by the equation: x d + t(wcos Alpha + d)/(R + a) where w the width of the panels, t the thicknessof the wall measured from the interior point of contact of two adjacentinterengaged panels if translated into contigous positions, to the pointof measurement of the distance x, R the radius of curvature measuredfrom the center of curvature of the wall segment to the midpoint of theinterior surface of the wall segment, d the distance, if any, theinterior points of contact of said panels are actually spaced apart inthe wall as assembled, a the depth of the chamfer, if any, of the panelsurface defining said interior surface, and Alpha the angle between Rand a line extending from the center of curvature through the midpointof the separation between said adjacent edge surfaces; and coveringmeans adjacent the convex surface of the wall segment for covering thegap between adjacent panels.
 8. The wall segment as defined in claim 7,wherein said stop means includes a rib projecting generallyperpendicularly from one of said side flanges.
 9. The wall segment asdefined in claim 7, and further including means for altering the angularpositioning of the kerf-interengaging means at one edge surface withrespect to the kerf-interengaging means at the adjacent edge surface.10. The wall segment as defined in claim 9, and further including meansfor altering the width x.
 11. The wall segment as defined in claim 7,and further including means for altering the thickness t.
 12. The wallsegment as defined in claim 7, wherein said side flanges are hingedtogether at one of their edges.
 13. The wall segment as defined in claim12, and further including a rib projecting generally perpendicularlyfrom said side flange.
 14. The wall segment as defined in claim 13,wherein said stop means and said covering means comprise ribs spacedapart on said side flanges, forming grooves, and a flat cover memberreleasibly positioned within said grooves, respectively.
 15. The wallsegment as defined in claim 12, and further including a center webportion mounting said covering means at one edge and hingedly mountingtwo interengaging gear segments at the other edge, said gear segmentsbeing integrally connected to said side flanges, whereby rotation of onegear segment and side flange with respect to the center web portioncauses the other gear segment and side flange to rotate an equal amount.16. The wall segment as defined in claim 15, wherein said stop meansincludes a coil torsion spring positioned so as to extend from one sideflange to the opposite side flange through said web portion.
 17. A studfor use in a generally circular wall segment comprising planar panelsnon-colinearly positioned to approximate a circle with the studs eachpositioned between two adjacent ones of said panels at their adjacentedges and interengaging the same; the stud comprising at least two sideflanges, a center web portion mounting a covering means at one edge, andtwo interengaging gear segments hingedly mounted for rotation about theother edge of tHe web portion, said gear segments being integrallyconnected to said side flanges, whereby rotation of one gear segment andside flange with respect to the center web portion causes the other gearsegment and side flange to rotate an equal amount.
 18. The stud asdefined in claim 17, wherein said covering means include a curved flangeextending in both directions from the center web portion, and a curvedflange extending from one edge of each side flange towards andoverlapping said web portion flange, each of said overlapping flangeshaving complementary radii of curvature.
 19. The stud as defined inclaim 17, and further including means for biasing the side flangesapart.
 20. A generally curved wall segment comprising pairs of planarpanels each having a front surface and an edge surface, and a pluralityof studs each positioned between two pairs of adjacent ones of saidpanels at their adjacent edge surfaces and interengaging the same,leaving their front surfaces exposed, each pair of panels defining onesection of the wall, each of the studs being characterized by a centerweb portion and lateral flanges engaging kerfs provided at the edges ofsaid panels, said lateral flanges having protuberances serving as stopmeans for locating said edge surfaces of each pair of panels in a commonplane inclined at an angle to and spaced-apart from the center webportion.
 21. The wall segment as defined in claim 20, wherein said angleon one side of the web portion is substantially equal to said angle onthe opposite side.
 22. A wall comprising a plurality of planar wallmembers arranged with their surfaces tangent to an imaginary curvilinearline, each of said wall members comprising a pair of parallelspaced-apart panels each having a kerf provided therein at the verticaledges thereof, and a plurality of studs each intermediate and connectingthe panels of adjacent wall members, each stud comprising a transverseweb having a pair of oppositely directed flanges disposed at an angle ofless than 180* with respect to each other at one portion thereofdisposed within the kerfs of one pair of adjacent panels, and a secondpair of oppositely directed flanges disposed at an angle of less than180* with respect to each other spaced-apart from said first pair anddisposed within the kerfs of the other pair of adjacent panels.
 23. Awall according to claim 22, additionally having cover means mounted oneach of said studs covering the space between the edges of adjacent wallmembers at the outer surface thereof.
 24. A wall according to claim 23,wherein said cover means comprises a pair of oppositely directed flangesintegral with said stud.
 25. A wall according to claim 22, wherein theweb of said stud comprises a pair of web members hingedly connected atone end, and having a cover plate disposed at the spaced-apart ends ofsaid web means.